Static electric machine.



T. H. PATEE, DEOD. M, J. PATEE, ADMINISTRATKTX STATIC ELECTRIC MACHINE.

APPLIOATION rum) JAN. 31, 1905.

1,043,030. Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

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T. H. PATEE, DECD. M. J. PATEE, ADMINISTRATRIX.

STATIC ELECTRIC MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31,

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORUS H. PATEE, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA; MARTHA J. PA'IEE, ADMINIS-TRATRIX OF SAID THEODORUS H. PATEE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO SAID MARTHA J.PATEE, INDIVIDUALLY.

STATIC ELECTRIC MACHINE.

Application filed January 31, 1988.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TirnonoRUs H. Pirrnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StaticElectric Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

One object of my invention is to inclose the generating mechanism of astatic electric machine within a case which will exclude air-currentsand in a large measure protect said mechanism from the disturbinginfluence of external variations of temperature and humidity, but to soconstruct the various parts that the electric machine may be easily andreadily removed from its case and operated outside and separate from thelatter if desired.

Another object is to provide a heating device to be located within thecase for the purpose of drying the interior and preventing thedeleterious precipitation of mo sture on the generators. I

Another object is to provide a switch located on the outside of the casefor making or breaking the induced electric current bc tween Leyden jarsor other electric accumulators, and to provide binding posts or othermeans for the support of removable electric appliances.

Another object is to provide means for exhibiting and supporting Geislertubes, thunderstorm displays and various other devices for ornamental,educational, medical or other purposes.

Another object is to provide a more real istic device for demonstratingthe phenomenon of a thunderstorm.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for stimulatingthe electric current to extreme energy of action by means of a spark gapbetween a prime conductor and an electrode and a metallic switch forregulating the size of the spark gap or for closing same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device the adjustablecontact of which with the brush rod will produce an entire reversal ofthe machine polarity.

Another object is to provide means for distributing ozone generated bythe machine for disinfecting and purifying purposes.

Other objects of my invention are to pro vide improved brush connectorsand sup ports and comb and supports and an improved guard or shield toreduce electric leakage, and to simplify the construction and render themachine more efficient and durable and more economical and convenient inmany ways such as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out inthe claims.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a front view of myinvention with the generators within a case, the doors of which areshown open, the view showing the tlninderstorm apparatus in operativeposition. Fig. 2 is a like view of the generative mechanism as itappearswhen removed from the case. Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the deviceshown in Fig. 1, except that the doors are shown as closed in this view.Fig. l, is a vertical section on the line e1-t, of Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is avertical sec tion. on the line 5-5, of Fig. 1, with the addition of afan for distributing ozone. Fig. 6 is a detail in plan view of thegenerating disks showing their attached shields in horizontal section.Fig. 7, is a longitudinal vertical section of the small house used in mythunderstorm display. Fig. 8, is a perspective view of wires to beapplied as lightning rods to the house. Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofthe pole changer and parts operatively associated therewith. Fig. 10, isa top view of the electrode and switch in my spark gap apparatus. Fig.11 is a vertical section of the sparl-z-gap apparatus. Fig. 12 is adetail inside view of shield for preventing leakage. Fig. 13 is asectional detail of shield, rims and generating plates and associatedmeans for supporting the brush-reds, and 14: is a detail in under-sideview of the rod which supports the device representing a cloud in mydevice rcpresenting a thunderstorm.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

The drawings illustrate an apparatus small enough to be readily portableas the invention is particularly adapted for use by lightning rod agentsin demonstrating the importance of rod protection to prospectivecustomers and should be easily carried from place to place for such use.The importance, for this use, of an inclosing case is also manifest asthe apparatus will be required to operate at all times and underconditions of atmosphere perhaps unfavorable.

1 represents the bottom of the case or cabinet, 2 the top, 3 the ends, athe back and 5 the doors by means of which the front is closed. Thiscase has a handle '6 by which it is carried. Preferably the doors andends will contain panels of glass in order that a view of the interiormay be readily obtained.

The cabinet or case here described is not suflicient to protect thegenerating plates against the condensation of moisture when the humidityof the atmosphere on the out side is excessive and T have thereforeprovided a lamp 7 adapted to be placed inside of the ease in a lightedcondition, after which the doors may be closed and thereupon theatmosphere contained within the case will be thoroughly dried. The lampflue 8 extends to the outside through the top 2 and terminates with thecap 9, which cap will protect the lamp against interference by outsideair currents or wind. The action of the lamp will be to draw the dampair in the case into the lamp and expel it from the ease tl 'ough theflue S.

10 is the base of the static-electric generator proper and is adapted tobe slid into the case above described, and to rest while in there, onthe bottom 1. The glass plates, combs, brushes, Leyden ars and otherparts required to make a practicable generator of static electricity aremounted on this base 10, whereby, upon the removal of the base from thecase or cabinet the above parts coming with it will form a generativemachine which is not inclosed, such as is shown in Fig. 2. This isdesirable for educational purposes and other uses where the cabinet orcase obstructs the view or interferes with free and close access fromall points.

Mounted on the rear of the base 10 is the vertical standard 11, and at asuitable dis tance in front of it is the shorter standard 13 is the mainshaft of the machine and is supported by the two standards 11 and 12. leis a sleeve mounted on shaft 13 next to standard 11, and integral withthis sleeve are the two diametrically opposite arms 15 to wnich theequalizer bars 17 are fastened. The bars 17 are bent around the glassplates in the manner shown in Fig. 5, and support the wire brushes 18.19 is a horizontal rod capable of longitudinal movement only, and it isconnected with one of the arms 15 by the link-bar 20. One end of the bar19 extends outside of the base 10 and also of the cabinet when themachine is incased, for easy access by the operator, and by moving therod 15) longitudinally the position of the equalizer bars 1? will becorrespondingly changed. On the rear end of the shaft 13,

which end projects to the outside of the cabi net when the generativemechanism is inclosed, is the small pulley 21, and below it is the largepulley 22 which is connected with pulley 21., by belt The pulley has thehandle or crank 2i.

Mounted on the shaft 1", in front of the sleeve 14: is the externallyscrew-threaded sleeve which is retained in fixed position on the shaftby set screw 26. Mounted upon the sleeve 25 is a. shorter sleeve 27 ofhard rubber and mounted midway of the ends of the rubber sleeve is thestill shorter metal spacing ring 28, against the ends of which are thesoft-rubber washers 29. Mounted on the sleeve 27, against each of therubber washers 99, are the revoluble glass disks 30, two in number,separated by the spacing ring and washers are metal nuts screwing on thethreaded sleeve 25) and insulated from their respective adjacent glassdisks 30 by washers of soft rubber. The

, use of soft rubber, as specified, relieves the glass plates from Jarand danger of break age. The two revoluble disks 30 are set far enoughapart to allow room for a pair of stationary glass disks 35, havinglarge central opening whereby they do not touch the metal spacing ring28.

The disks 55 are provided with a rim 36 which is supported at its lowerpart by the hard rubber footing 37 fastened to the'base l0, and the topof the rim is fastened to a hard rubber strap 39 which in turn isfastened to the top of the standard 11. The strap is wide enough to forma joint or splice by which the ends of the rim are connected. Therevoluble disks 30 both have rubber rims 4:0 to prevent leakage ofelectricity from the edge of the disk and also to strengthen and supportthe disk against breakage, which is the function also of rim 36.

There is a strong tendency for the static current to escape and equalizewith surrounding objects, which tendency is magnified by the proximityof the sides of an inclosing cabinet. This is relieved to a large extentby the use of additional shields 42 of hard rubber which are riveted tothe rims 3(3 and form supports for the latter and particularly toprevent leakage at the places of attachment of the brush and comb rods.

Each stationary disk is provided with oppositely-located strips oftin-foil l3 curved concentric with the disk as shown in Figs. 1, 2, andat. "hose are placed on said sta tionary disks on the adjacentsides ofthe latter so as to be between the pair of disks. The tin-foil is placedon the disk and is overlaid with paper ll. The strips arecorrespondingly placed on the two adjacent faces of the stationarydisks. From the ends of the strips l3 of tin-foil there is anothertin-foil strip 45 (see Fig. 13) extending to the disk periphery. Theouter end of tinfoil strip 45 extends flush to the edge of the glassdisk and the two strips of tin-foil for the adjacent sides of each pairof stationary disks have between them a copper strip 4.6. Said copperstrip has its ends turned laterally and clamped against the horizontalbar 48. The bar 48 passes between the rubber rim 3G and the edges of thepair of stationary glass disks, and to provide room for the passage ofthe bar without bending or weakening of the rim 36 which would result bynotching or cutting the latter away to make room for the bar 48 I preferto notch the periphery of the glass disks as shown at 50 in Fig. 9. Thebar 4&8 is attached to rim 36 by means of the two bolts 52, Fig. 13. Theends of the bar 48 terminate with lugs 53 having screw threaded socketsto receive the rods 54. If this rod 54. is intended to carry a brush itwill be constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 13, but it intended tosupport a comb it will differ from the brush rod by the omission of thebrush and the addition of the combs as illustrated at the top of Fig. 6and in the upper rod of Fig. 9. 57 are jam nuts on rods 54: to keep thelatter from loosening by use.

(30 represent Leyden jars the inner coating of each of which isconnected with the comb or collector-rods of the machine (see Figs. 4and 6), and the outer coatings of which are connected through a metalpin 61 with a metal sheet 62 on the bottom of base 10, the sheets forthe two jars being separate and insulated from each other. The twoplates 62 are electrically connected when the generative mechanism is inits cabinet, by means of the conductor 63. Located in the circuit ofthis conductor, preferably on top of the cabinet and adjacent to theback of the latter, is a switch, or rather a double switch, comprising apair of metal bolts 64 which pass through the top of the cabinet andwith the inner ends of which connection is made by the conductor (38.Secured to the top of the cabinet on the outside of the latter are thebars of metal 65 which have a swinging adjustment on bolts (A. Theirfree ends are adapted to be brought into electrical contact with a metalplate 67 secured to the top of the cabinet between the two bolts 64: soas to complete the electric circuit when thus in contact. The circuitthrough plate 67 will be broken by swinging either of the metal bars 65out of contact with plate 67. Each free end of the two bars 65 isprovided with a binding post 69 to receive a removable verticalextension 70.

Secured to the back of the cabinet is a standard 71 which extends abovethe cabinet-top in the manner as shown and provides a support for ashort shaft 7 2.

' Mounted on the rear end of shaft 72 is a pulley 7 3 which is connectedby means of belt 7%. with a pulley 7 5 on the main shaft 13 of themachine. The front end of the shaft 72 is to receive display devicessuch as that shown in Fig. 4 comprising a substantially square plate 77adapted to rotate between the vertical extensions 7 0 when both switchesare open. The plate 77 has its two opposite edges 79 covered withtinfoil or other conductor of electricity, and between these coverededges Geisler and other display tubes 80 are mounted and secured by thewire ties 7 6 so as to make electric connection between said conductingedges 7 9. hen the plate 77 is rotated between the extensions 7 0 itscorners will successively approach near enough to the extensions tocomplete the electric circuit and cause intermittent displays in thetubes 80.

The inner coatings of the Leyden ars are connected by the metal rods 82with the electrodes 84 located outside of and above the cabinet. Theelectrodes have the usual balls 85 at their adjacent or inner ends andhandles 86 at their outer ends. The rods 82 I designate as the primeconductors and they will be protected from leakage by the rubberinsulations or covering 87. I have found that by providing an air-gap inone of these prime conductors and a metal switch by which the size ofthe gap can be regulated and if desired entirely closed I am able toincrease and regulate the force and materially add to the disruptiveaction. In carrying out this phase of my invention I provide a metal rod89 which I secure to the top of the cabinet at a suitable position adjacent to the projecting end of rod 82 and support the upper end of bothrods by a hard rubber plate 90, through which both rods are made topass. Mounted on the end of rod 89 upon the rubber plate 90 is a metalenlargement or head 92 through which the electrode Si is slidinglypassed. Secured to the projecting upper end of the rod 82, and restingon the rubber plate 90, is the laterally extended metallic arm Qt, thefree end of which is adapted to swing into contact with or intopositions more or less remote from the head 92 whereby a spark-gapbetween the end of arm 94 and head 92 may be produced, the length ofwhich will depend on the distance of the end of the arm from said head.

The flow of electric current from the combs would be incessant andcontinuous through the prime conductor 82 to the sliding electrode 84:if it were not for the obstruction of the primary spark-gap abovedescribed wherein the air acts as a nonconductor and as a dielectricsimilar to the action of the glass walls of a Leyden jar. If the primarycurrent is positive it will induce negative force to the nearest surfaceof the insulated metal support for the sliding ball or other terminals,but this slight resistance of air space is easily broken down by therush or pressure of the constantly gen-- erated current, and each slightaccumulation and break causes a spark by air resistance and also causesa sudden increase in force, potential, and polarity of the induced anddisruptive force accumulated by the insulated electrodes to such anextent as to materially enhance disruptive action.

The force as generated is suflicient to. overcome and break theresistance of the air gap with great frequency and the impulsions ofthese breaks can be utilized for giving shocks for medical treatment andother uses where throbbing or disruptive effects are desirable.

hen a spark is produced between the balls 85 of the electrodes 8-1 thereis an attendant generation of ozone which it properly distributedthroughout a room would act as apoweriul disinfectant and with thepurpose of distributing this ozone I provide a fan which is mounted onthe short shaft '72 in place of the plate 77. The ac tion 01 the tanwhen rotated by the means shown in Fig. 5, creates a current of airacross the electrode terminals which car ries the ozone away from themachine and distributes it throughout the room.

I will now describe my apparatus for demonstrating the phenomenon of a.thunder storm. In this demonstration both of the switches 65 will beclosed and the extensions 70 removed from their binding posts, and theelectrodes Sl will be separated to prevent sparking between them. Thehead terminating the conductor rod 89 is provided with a threaded socketinto which the lower end of the vertical extension or postis screwed.The top end of this post is pointed.

101 represents a rod having a row of countersinks 102 to receive thepointed end of post 100. The rod 101 hasa handle 103 at one end and itterminates at its other end in a hook 104-. Suspended from this hookedend is a concave or cupped metallic plate 105, which plate is partiallyinsulated by means of a cloth covering 100. The hooked end 10%- ot itssupporting rod terminates with the rubber knob 10? to prevent electricalleakage. This cloth-covered plate 105 suspended as above described fromrod 101 has free movement in all directions and represents a storm cloudand suspended above the opposite electrode of the machine. In order tomake the demonstration realistic this opposite electrode whichrepresents the earth is provided with a miniature house 108, the detailsof which are clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. The head which terminatesthe conductor 82 of this electrode is 1 provided with a threaded socketinto which the end of rod 111 supporting the house is screwed. The upperend of rod 111 is insulated, but the lower end and the head 110 are inelectric contact with tin-toil 113 which connects the chimney and roofof the house with head 110 and conductor 82. The proximity of the plate105 or cloud to the house will depend on which of the holes 102 of rod101 the pointed end of rod 100 enters. The cloud is on a balance withhandle 103 and weight 115 at the handle-end of rod 101 and by changingthe support 100 closer to the handle the cloud will be eorrespondinglylowered and by moving the support in the opposite direction it will becorrespondingly raised. When the machine is in operation and properlyelectrified a spark illustrating a hash of lightning will pass from thecloud to the house. Should the spark pass from the house to the cloud itwill be necessary to reverse the polarity of the machine, which will bedone by mechanism hereinafter described.

By placing the rod 110 (shown in perspective removed from the house inFig. 8 and in dotted lines on the house in Figs. 1 and 7) on the housethere will be no spark but the electricity will be seen pouringcontinuously from the cloud to the tips of the rod.

The device for changing the polarity of the machine, or pole-changer,so-ealled, is illustrated in Figs. 1, t, and 9, and comprises arock-shaft 11(3 electrically connected with the conductor (33 whichconductor is connected through parts 61 and ('52 with the outer coatingof a Leyden jar. The rock-shaft carries the radial conductor-rod whichis adapted to be brought by rocking shaft 110, into contact with thebrush rod 5-1- having electrical connection around the glass generatingplates. A handle 121 on the outer end of the rock-shaft facilitates therocking of said shaft.

I have found by experience that whatever the polarity of the machine maybe, it is invariably rcversed by the lowering of the conductor-rod 120into contact with the brush-rod 5 1.

It is believed that the operation of my invention will be so apparent tothose skilled in the art. from what has already been said, that furtherexplanation will be unnecessary. In connection, however, with thebenefits to be derived from the use of the fan for hygienic purposeathepurification of the atmosphere does not depend on the chemical action ofthe ozone alone, for even when the atmosphere seems quite pure, closeobservation shows n1 'ri:.1ds ot' tine dust-like particles which, ifinhaled are liable to prove deleterious to health. By the action of thetan these particles are agitated and currents established which bringsthem within the influence'ot the machine whereby they are electrifiedand attracted to each other and to the machine and are deposited in theform of dust which may be removed leaving the atmosphere comparativelypure.

When it desired to remove the static apparatus from its case the pulleys21. and 75, which are secured to the shaft 13 by any wellknown andsuitable means (not shown). are removed; then the nut on the lower endof the rod 89 is removed which trees said rod and permits it and rod 82and their in sulating covers to bewithdrawn vertically. In like mannerthe other rod 82 is with drawn. The generator is then tree and can beslid t'orward out o't its case and thereupon the rods 82 are reassembledwith their respective jars as shown in Fig. 2. The crank-wheel 22 isremoved from its shatt on the case and is mounted on shaft 1?) toprovide: means for manually operating the uncased generator.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a static electric machine, having a case forinclosing the generator plates and other working'parts ot the machine,of a pair of vertical and parallel electrodes, a revoluble apparatusbetween said electrodes carrying display devices, and means forcollecting the generated electric current and for transmitting itthrough said electrodes to the said display devices.

2. The combination with a static electric machine, having a case forinclosing the generator plates and other working parts of the machine,of a pair of. vertical electrodes above the case, means for changingtheir distance from each other, and a revolving apparatus also above theease between the vertical electrodes operating in conjunction with saidelectrodes.

3. The combination with a static electric machine, having a case forinclosing the generator plates and other working parts of the machine,of standard extending above the machine, a revolving axle supported bythe standard. a revolving plate carrying dis play devices attached toand actuated by the aXle, and means for collecting the electric currentand for transmitting it to the revolving apparatus.

i. A machine for generating static electricity, a standard extendingabove the machine, an axle supported upon suitable bearings by saidstandard, means for revolving said axle, Geisler tubes, means formounting said tubes on said axle for electrical display and conductorsadjacent the path of the rotating tubes to transmit electricitytheretoas the tubes pass the conductors.

In a machine for generating and utilizing static electricity, a metalbar, a brush holder, a stationary electric-plate having an inductor withmeans for conducting the induced electricity to the periphery of theplate and from thence to a section of the brush holder, said sectionbeing rigidly and electrically connected with said metal bar which barhas electrical connection around the periphery of the plate with saidinductor, ap n'oximately right angled members on said metal bar, saidbrush-holder held by said right angled members, and a brush in eachholder in position to act inductive y upon the inductor which faces thebrush from opposite sides of said plate.

(3. In a static electric machine, electric gencrater-plates havingperipheral supporting bands of hard rubber, receiving combs, trictionbrushes, and additional and wider hard rubber guardplates attached tothe outside of said hard rubber band opposite said combs and brushes toadditionally prevent loss of electric force by leakage.

T. In a static electric macl'iine, the combi-. nation of electricgenerators comprising sta tionary and rotative plates, a conductorleading outside of the case, receiving comb in operative proximity tothe generators, means for electrically connecting the comb with saidconductor, said receiving comb being supported by a transverse bar, saidtransverse bar, and a strip of hard rubber embracing the edge of thestationary plate of said generator to which strip said transverse bar issecurely attached.

8. In static electric. machine, stationary generating plates, a hardrubber rim on said plates, a receiving comb comprising a metal barsecurely fastened between the plates and rubber rim to said rim,comb-holding rods screwed into the ends of said bar, a Leyden jar, andelectric conductors connecting the comb with the jar.

9. In combination with an electric machine, and Leyden jars, a movableconductor electrically connected with the outer coating of a Leyden jarwhich conductor by contact with the polarized parts of one side of themachine causes an entire reversal of the polarity of the machine. I

10. In a stat'c electric machine, the combination with the machine andelectric accumulators, of a conducting medium electrically connectedwith. the outer coating of one of said accumulators and adjustable intooperative proximity with the polarized parts of one side of the machinethereby causing a sudden discharge and revulsion of the elec triccurrent and a reversal of the polarity of the machine.

11. In a static electric machine, accumulators and a pole changingdevice electrically connected with the outer coating of one of saidaccumulators and adjustably adapted to electrical connection with orseparation from the polarized parts of the machine for the purpose ofreversing the polarity of the machine.

12. In a static electric machine, accumulators and a swinging conductorin electric connection with the outer coating of one of saidaccumulators for changing and reversing the polarity of the oppositelyelectrified parts or" the static generator.

13. In a static electric machine, stationary generating plates havingsuitable conductors, a conductor haying electrical connection around theedges of said plates, a pair of brushes supported on opposite sides ofthe plates by said conductor, brush-rods supporting said brushes,accumulators, a movable conductor adapted to connect one of saidpolarized brush-rods with the inductive coating of said accumulatorsditlering in polarity or potential from its brush connection and therebychange and reverse the course and the polarity of current in theelectrified parts of the machine.

14-. In a static electric machine, a case, electric generators andelectric accumulators in said case, means including aswitch for makingor breaking their induced elec- I Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the tric current, said switch beinglocated on the outside of the case and including a swinging switch-barhaving a binding-post at its free end, a removable electrical conductorin said binding-post and a rotary conductor making and breaking contactat each revolution with said removable conductor.

15. In a static electric machine, a case, electric generators andelectric accumula tors in said case, and means including a double switchfor making or breaking their induced electric current, said doubleswitch being located on the outside of the case and comprising a pair ofswinging bars each having a. binding-post to support removableelectrical appliances, andafixed intermediate plate with which saidswitch bars make and break the circuit.

In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 25th day of January, A. I). one thousandnine hundred and eight.

THEODORUS H. PATEE. [n s.] Witnesses J. Mix'rnnn, FRANK L. Cnnws.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

